If the water is potable, then it should be good enough to use in a CPAP. I used tap water and change it every day. I split my time between two places and have two machines. I will wash and air dry my tank if I'm gone for more than two days.

Funny thing - I ran across someone the other day with an O2 cannula, obviously suffering from COPD. He was lighting up a fag, unfiltered, the flame of his lighter millimetres from his nose, a naked flame next to flowing O2. Never mind the COPD, O2 and naked flames don't mix well. But COPD and still smoking - bloody idiotic.

I have written about the science behind all this, I have explained all I am allowed to about what we found in testing and our recommendations, so if you don't follow those recommendations, if you ignore the very real findings, that is your look-out. Like any doc, I can only tell you what is, if you don't want to follow it, your problem, not mine.

(09-30-2015 11:22 AM)DocWils Wrote: Funny thing - I ran across someone the other day with an O2 cannula, obviously suffering from COPD. He was lighting up a fag, unfiltered, the flame of his lighter millimetres from his nose, a naked flame next to flowing O2. Never mind the COPD, O2 and naked flames don't mix well. But COPD and still smoking - bloody idiotic.

I've seen a similar situation and wondered how he got away with doing that. He did it while sitting on an RV propane tank. Small bang followed by large bang. It would cure smoking though.

(09-30-2015 11:22 AM)DocWils Wrote: Funny thing - I ran across someone the other day with an O2 cannula, obviously suffering from COPD. He was lighting up a fag, unfiltered, the flame of his lighter millimetres from his nose, a naked flame next to flowing O2. Never mind the COPD, O2 and naked flames don't mix well. But COPD and still smoking - bloody idiotic.

I have written about the science behind all this, I have explained all I am allowed to about what we found in testing and our recommendations, so if you don't follow those recommendations, if you ignore the very real findings, that is your look-out. Like any doc, I can only tell you what is, if you don't want to follow it, your problem, not mine.

Your post was not in vain. I am a tap-water person that is negligent in equipment hygiene. As a result of your information, I did a complete cleanout of the humidifier tank, hose and mask. The tank was especially bad, but vinegar and some detailing removed the biofilm and calcium deposits. Nice to freshen things up, and I'll be more careful with the humidifier tank in the future. Not sure I'll switch to distilled, but I look forward to seeing the the results of the studies, once they are translated.

All else being equal, distilled water has been boiled to steam and then condensed back to liquid water. Boiling kills bacteria. Enough for me, given the small codt of distilled water...for me, somewhat over $1.00 a month.

(09-28-2015 10:54 AM)philipquillen Wrote: Embossed on the top of the humidifier chamber is the phrase "Distilled Water Only".

I was told tap water was okay, but don't use all of the water up or you'll end up breathing in the dissolved solids that remain and also to wash it out each day. I use purified (reverse osmosis and deionised) water mine so that I do not have to do this.

If I thought whiskey was safe in a humidifier, believe me, I would use it, at least when I wasn't on call . I suspect you would have a dry nose, sore throat and a helluva headache, though, if it didn't kill you, since breathing alcohol fumes can be rather dangerous. But one can dream, can't one? Cardhu, for me, please.

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